1 This lab activity is aligned with Visible Body’s Human Anatomy Atlas app.
Learn more at visiblebody.com/professors
We've split our Cranial Nerves lab activity into two parts.
Part 1 is pre-lab exercises as well as exercises that incorporate cranial nerves I-VI. Part 2 includes exercises covering cranial nerves VII-XII as well as post-lab exercises.
2 PRE-LAB EXERCISES
A. In the main menu at the top of the screen, use the Views tab to search by body systems. Under Nervous System Views, select 2. Brain, and make the following observations:
1. Which two structures make up the central nervous system (CNS)?
2. This view demonstrates the location of bones that form the cranium. What important roles does the cranium play in regard to the brain?
3. Identify each of the bones that form the cranium. Hide each of these bones after you’ve identified them:
a. Frontal
b. Parietal (left)
c. Occipital
d. Temporal (left and right)
e. Sphenoid
f. Zygomatic (left and right)
g. Ethmoid
4. Rotate the image so that you are viewing the lateral surface of the left cerebral hemisphere. Select and identify each of the following regions of the brain:
a. Frontal lobe of the cerebrum
b. Precentral gyrus of the frontal cortex
c. Postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe
d. Parietal lobe of the cerebrum
e. Temporal lobe of the cerebrum
f. Occipital lobe of the cerebrum
g. Cerebellum
h. Midbrain
3 i. Cerebral crus of the midbrain
j. Superior colliculus of the midbrain
k. Inferior colliculus of the midbrain
l. Pons
m. Medulla oblongata
5. While it is not visible from this view, what part of the nervous system would extend below the medulla oblongata?
6. Select any of the cranial nerves in this view. Then, in the content box, select the caret at the top left. The caret will open a breadcrumb trail with a hierarchy of structures. In this hierarchy, select "Cranial nerves" and use the definition to answer the following questions:
a. How many pairs of cranial nerves are there in the human body?
b. Cranial nerves are named for their connection to which part of the central nervous system?
c. How many pairs of spinal nerves are there in the human body?
B. In preparation for more extensive learning in lab, use Nervous System View 6. Cranial Nerves to identify the 12 pairs of cranial nerves. Be sure to use the Systems menu on the left side of the screen to deselect the skeletal, muscular, and digestive systems for the best view of the nerves. Use the space below to write out the scientific name of each nerve and a brief description of its location.
1. Cranial nerve 01 (I) –
2. Cranial nerve 02 (II) –
3. Cranial nerve 03 (III) –
4. Cranial nerve 04 (IV) –
5. Cranial nerve 05 (V) –
6. Cranial nerve 06 (VI) –
4 7. Cranial nerve 07 (VII) –
8. Cranial nerve 08 (VIII) –
9. Cranial nerve 09 (XI) –
10. Cranial nerve 10 (X) –
11. Cranial nerve 11 (XI) –
12. Cranial nerve 12 (XII) –
5 IN-LAB EXERCISES:
Obtain a brain model or a preserved specimen. Use the following modules to guide your exploration of the brain and the cranial nerves. As you identify structures, use the book icon to access definitions so you can answer the questions below. You are responsible for the identification of all bolded terms.
1. Brain
Frontal bone Parietal bone
Ethmoid bone Occipital bone
Sphenoid bone
Zygomatic bone
Temporal bone
6 2. Brain
Postcentral gyrus of parietal lobe Precentral gyrus of frontal cortex
Parietal lobe
Frontal lobe
Occipital lobe
Midbrain
Pons Cerebellum
Medulla oblongata
7 3. Brain
Cerebrum
Diencephalon Midbrain
Cerebellum Pons
Medulla oblongata
A. Begin by reviewing locations of major brain regions. Return to Nervous System Views and select 2. Brain, to help you identify the following structures on your specimen:
1. Cerebrum
2. Cerebellum
3. Diencephalon
4. Midbrain
5. Pons
6. Medulla oblongata
8 Cranial Nerves
CN 01 (I) Olfactory
CN 02 (II) Optic
CN 03 (III) Oculomotor CN 04 (IV) Trochlear CN 06 (VI) Abducens CN 05 (V) Trigeminal CN 07 (VII) Facial
CN 09 (IX) Glossopharyngeal CN 08 (VIII) Vestibulocochlear
CN 10 (X) Vagus CN 12 (XII) Hypoglossal CN 11 (XI) Spinal (Accessory)
9 B. Identification of the Olfactory Nerves (I)
Olfactory Nerves (I)
Medial stria of CN 01
Lateral stria of CN 01 Olfactory bulbs
Olfactory tracts
1. In Nervous System Views, select 6. Cranial Nerves. Hide the sphenoid, frontal, and temporal bones to best see the required structures. Select any part of the olfactory nerve and answer the following questions:
a. These nerves are sensory/motor/mixed (circle one).
b. These nerves are responsible for the sense of ______.
c. Where do these nerves originate?
2. Using this same view, identify the following structures and answer questions based on their descriptions.
a. Cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
i. Fade the cribriform plate and observe its relationship with the olfactory nerves.
10 ii. The cribriform plate supports the ______- the terminus of the ______- and is perforated by numerous ______for the passage of the branches of the ______.
b. Olfactory bulbs of CN 01
i. Are olfactory bulbs seated superior or inferior to the cribriform plate?
ii. Zoom in to see the projections on the inferior surface of the bulbs. (Tip: You may need to hide the ethmoid bone to see them well.)
iii. Within each bulb, axons of olfactory ______form synapses with dendrites and cell bodies of other ______.
iv. If you are attempting to view the olfactory bulbs on a preserved specimen, they may be missing or incomplete. Why do you think this is?
c. Olfactory tracts of CN 01 - Olfactory tracts are formed by axons/dendrites (circle one).
d. Lateral stria of CN 01 - Follow this tract to see which region of the brain it terminates in:
e. Medial stria of CN 01 - Follow this tract to see which region of the brain it terminates in:
f. Signals transmitted along the olfactory tracts terminate in the ______area in the ______lobe of the cerebral cortex.
3. Based on your learning, how do you think damage to this nerve would present clinically?
4. What types of tests would you devise to test the function of this nerve in patients?
11 C. Identification of the Optic Nerves
Optic Nerves (II)
Optic chiasm Hypothalamus
Pituitary gland CN 02 (II) Optic
12 1. In Nervous System Views, select 6. Cranial Nerves. Rotate the image so you are looking into the empty socket of the right eye. Select the optic nerve and then select Fade Others. Observe its location and read the description.
a. These nerves are sensory/motor/mixed (circle one).
b. These nerves are responsible for the sense of ______.
c. They originate in the ______of each eye.
d. Which bone contains the optic foramina that the optic nerves pass through (be sure to identify this structure)?
e. At which point do the right and left optic nerves converge?
f. Where do the optic tracts exist?
2. Rotate the image so you are looking into the right cerebral hemisphere. Select the optic chiasm and read the description.
a. The optic chiasm is the crossing point of the optic nerves. Is it a partial or a complete crossing?
b. The crossed fibers occupy the medial/lateral (circle one) part of the chiasm.
c. The uncrossed fibers occupy the medial/lateral (circle one) part of the chiasm.
d. Where is the optic chiasm located in relation to the pituitary gland?
13 e. Where is the optic chiasm located in relation to the hypothalamus?
f. Posterior to the optic chiasm, fibers from the optic nerves travel in the form of optic ______to the ______.
g. Based on the anatomy of the optic chiasm, do you think the right cerebral hemisphere will process vision from the right eye, left eye, or both eyes?
3. Based on your learning, how do you think damage to this nerve would present clinically?
4. What types of tests would you devise to test the function of this nerve in patients?
14 D. Identification of the Oculomotor Nerves (III), Trochlear Nerves (IV), and Abducens Nerves (VI)
Oculomotor Nerves (III)
Superior rectus muscle
Levator palpebrae CN 03 (III) Oculomotor superioris muscle
Medial rectus muscle
Inferior oblique muscle Inferior rectus muscle
15 Trochlear Nerves (IV)
Superior oblique muscle CN 04 (IV) Trochlear
Pons Sphenoid bone
Superior orbital fissure
16 Abducens Nerves (VI)
Sphenoid bone
CN 06 (VI) Abducens Lateral rectus muscle
Superior orbital fissure
A. In Nervous System Views, select 6. Cranial Nerves. Hide the sphenoid, frontal, and temporal bones to best see the required structures. Select any part of the olfactory nerve and answer the following questions:
1. Select the oculomotor nerves, and select Fade Others. Observe their location, and read their description.
a. Are these nerves sensory/motor/mixed (circle one)?
b. Where do fibers of this nerve originate?
c. Which foramina do the oculomotor nerves pass through? Which cranial bone are these foramina associated with?
17 d. Be able to identify the following effector targets of the oculomotor nerves, along with their functions:
i. Levator palpebrae superioris muscle -
ii. Superior rectus muscle -
iii. Medial rectus muscle -
iv. Inferior rectus muscle -
v. Inferior oblique muscle -
e. Use the search bar to identify these additional targets of the oculomotor nerve. Write their function in the space provided below:
i. Ciliary muscles -
ii. Pupillary sphincter of the iris -
2. Select the trochlear nerves, and select Fade Others. Observe their location, and read their description.
a. Where do fibers of this nerve originate?
b. Which foramina do the trochlear nerves pass through? Which cranial bone are these foramina associated with?
c. Which extraocular muscle is innervated by each trochlear nerve? What is its function?
3. Select the abducens nerves, and select Fade Others. Observe their location, and read their description.
a. Where do fibers of this nerve originate?
b. Which foramina do the abducens nerves pass through? Which cranial bone are these foramina associated with?
18 c. Which extraocular muscle is innervated by each abducens nerve? What is its function?
d. What is the function of sensory fibers of the abducens nerves?
4. What is the common purpose of the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens cranial nerves?
5. Based on your learning, how do you think damage to these nerves would present clinically?
6. What types of tests would you devise to test the function of these nerves in patients?
19 E. Identification of the Trigeminal Nerves (V)
Ophthalmic branch Maxilla
Semilunar ganglion Maxillary branch
Mandibular branch
1. Select the region of the trigeminal nerve closest to the brain stem. How does its size compare to that of the other nerves you have studied?
2. Each trigeminal nerve divides into ______major branches.
3. Identify the semilunar ganglion.
4. Select the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve and read its description:
a. This branch is sensory/motor/mixed (circle one).
b. These sensory fibers originate from receptors associated with which regions:
20 c. As this branch transmits nerve impulses toward the brain, which cranial foramen does it pass through? Which cranial bone is this foramen associated with?
d. Which brain region do the fibers of this branch terminate on?
5. Select the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve and read its description:
a. This branch is sensory/motor/mixed (circle one).
b. These sensory fibers originate from receptors associated with which regions?
c. Which foramen in the maxilla allows branches of this nerve to innervate the skin of the face?
d. Which foramen in the zygomatic bone allows branches of this nerve to innervate the skin of the face?
e. Select the maxilla and hide it. Observe the many branches off the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve.
f. As this branch transmits nerve impulses toward the brain, which cranial foramen does it pass through? Which cranial bone is this foramen associated with?
g. Which brain region do the fibers of this branch terminate on?
6. Select the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve and read its description:
a. This branch is sensory/motor/mixed (circle one).
b. These sensory fibers originate from receptors associated with which regions?
21 c. These motor fibers terminate on which structures?
d. As this branch transmits nerve impulses to and from the brain, which cranial foramen does it pass through? Which cranial bone is this foramen associated with?
7. Based on your learning, how do you think damage to this nerve would present clinically?
8. Click on the pathology icon and write out the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia:
9. What types of tests would you devise to test the function of this nerve in patients?
22 23 1. Brain
24 2. Brain
25 5. Brain
26 Cranial Nerves
27 Olfactory Nerves (I)
28 Optic Nerves (II)
29 Oculomotor Nerves (III)
30 Trochlear Nerves (V)
31 Abducens Nerves (VI)
32 Trigeminal Nerves (IV)
33